Support frame for furniture



y 1963 L. J. ROTHBAUER, JR 3,

SUPPORT FRAME FOR FURNITURE Filed Feb. 10, 1961 3,098,244 SUPPORT FRAMEFOR FURNITURE Louis .I. Rothbauer, .lrn, Chicago, 111., assignor toModern Sleep Products Company, Marslifieid, Wis, a corporation ofIllinois Filed Feb. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 88,464 1 Claim. (Cl. -247) Thisinvention relates to a support frame for furniture, and is particularlyconcerned with means for making a strong furniture frame that willimpart a maximum of comfort into the article of furniture built on saidframe.

The frame may be of any desirable configuration, depending upon theintended shape of the article of furniture to be built thereon, but isillustrated as a rectangular member suitable for a bed, sofa or a widechair. The frame comprises tWo longitudin-al members joined at theirends by two transverse members and reinforced intermediate its length bya plurality of transverse braces. The frame also includes a plurality oftransversely extending springs. The springs are spaced above the planein which the ends of the braces are secured, to provide a resilientsupport for a mattress or pad positioned thereon.

The frame is comparatively shallow, and braces extending transversely ofthe frame within the horizontal planes of the frame Will not permitsprings mounted on the frame to be flexed to their full capacity. Insimilar structures the intermediate portions of the braces have beenbent below the bottom horizontal plane of the frame to provide necessaryclearance so that the flexing amplitude of the springs is not limited tosuch an extent that the comfort inherent in the springs is seriouslyimpaired. Structures of this type, however, have the disadvantage, whenshipped as component parts of the furniture to be fabricated, ofrequiring extra shipping and storage space because the intermediateportions of the braces project beyond the lowermost horizontal plane ofthe frame.

In the frame constructed in accordance with the present invention, thebraces are rotatably mounted in the longitudinal frame members and arecurved adjacent said longitudinal frame members. When the frame isshipped or stored, the braces are located within the confines of theframe members, and, therefore, do not require any extra shipping orstorage space. When the frame is to be incorporated into an article offurniture, the braces are rotated until each of them extends into itslowermost position to provide the maximum flexing amplitude for thesprings so that a mattress or pad supported on the springs are notunduly restricted in their downward vertical movement caused by theweight of a person lying or sitting on the article of furniture.

The longitudinal frame members are provided with a plurality ofwedge-shaped brackets for holding the ends of the transversely extendingsprings. The springs are preferably fiat serpentine springs and havetheir ends bent over to bear againstghe wedge surfaces of the brackets,thereby holding the springs in arched position.

The structure by means of which the above and other advantages of theinvention are attained is fully described in the followingspecification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whichillustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a support frame embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, showing one end ofthe spring secured to the bracket;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view, showing an end of thespring secured to the bracket;

a ME FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 66 of FIG.5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, showing the endof the spring positioned against the wedge surface of the bracket.

Referring to the drawings, the frame includes a pair of longitudinalmembers 2 joined together at their ends by transverse members 3 securedthereto in any suitable manner. The inner surface of each longitudinalmember is provided with a plurality of recesses 4 aligned withcorresponding recesses in the opposite member. A brace 5 has itsopposite ends 6 rotatably mounted in the recesses 4. The number ofbraces provided in the illustrated embodiment is three, but it will beunderstood that this number may be varied, depending upon the length ofthe frame. The braces are bent adjacent each end, as indicated at 7.When the frame is packed for shipment or storage, each brace is turnedso that its intermediate portion is located within the confines of thetop and bottom planes of the frame members 2 and 3.

The braces rigidify the frame and also limit the down ward movement of amattress or pad supported on the springs when a person lies or sits onthe furniture in which the frame is incorporated. The rotationalmounting of the ends of the braces permits them to turn through an arcof to provide extra clearance for the mattress or pad. The braces may beturned to their lowermost positions manually when the frame isincorporated into an article of furniture, or will turn to such positionunder the force exerted by the weight of a person lying or sitting onthe furniture. The additional downward movement of the mattress or padpermitted by the rotation of the braces permits maximum amplitude forthe flexure of the springs caused by the weight of a person sitting orlying on the furniture, and thereby adds to the comfort of thefurniture.

The number of springs provided in any frame may be varied, dependingupon the length of the frame. For example, in FIG. 1 two springs 8extend transversely of the frame between adjacent braces and betweeneach end member and the adjacent brace. Preferably the spacing betweenthe springs is uniform throughout the length of the frame, but thespacing between the springs near the ends of the frame may be increasedwhere the load to be carried is not as great as in the center portion ofthe frame. Each spring 8 is preferably made of round spring steel bentin opposite directions in a single plane throughout its length to form aflat serpentine member cut to proper length. Each end portion of thespring is bent inwardly and then downwardly from the flat plane of theintermediate portion of the spring, as indicated at 9 and '10,respectively, for a purpose hereinafter described.

Wedgeshaped brackets 11 are secured to the longitudinal frame members 2in position to engage each end of each spring 8. Each bracket includes ahorizontal lip 12 secured to the top surface of the frame member 2 bynail or screws 13. The lip 12 may be secured in any suitable manner. Ifthe longitudinal frame members are tubular, they may be slotted, and theend of the lip 1'2 may be bent to engage the slot. If the longitudinalframe members are metal, the lip 12 may be welded thereto.

The bracket 11 has one surface 14 bent at an obtuse angle to the lip 12and a pair of wings 15 bent outwardly at 90 from opposite edges ofsurface 14. The outer end of each wing 15 butts against the innersurface of the frame member 2 to hold the surface 14 at the desiredangle. The upper edges of wings 15 are shaped to provide notches 16 intowhich a section 17 of the spring 8 is adapted to fit. The bracket andend of spring 8 are assembled with the frame member by inserting the lip12 between adjacent sections of the spring and positioning 3 the notches16 in engagement with the section 17, and then securing the lip 12 tothe frame member 2.

When the bracket 11 is secured to the frame member 2 the end section 16bears against the surface 14. When the opposite end of spring 8 and thebracket are secured to the opposite longitudinal frame member, theinclined angle of surfaces 14 and the ends of the spring cooperate tohold the intermediate portion of the spring in an arch extendingslightly above the plane of the upper surfaces of the frame members. Theslight upward curve of the spring adds a slight stiffness to the springthat prevents collapse of the spring when it is depressed by the weightof a person lying or sitting on the article of furniture in which theframe is incorporated.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention inconsiderable detail, it will be understood that the description thereofis intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many detailsof construction may be modified or changed Without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not 20 desire to berestricted to the exact construction described.

I claim:

In a support frame, a longitudinal frame member and a Wedge-shapedbracket for securing the end of a transversely extending spring to saidlongitudinal frame member, said bracket having a lip secured to saidframe member and a fiat surface extending downwardly at an obtuse angleto the plane of said lip, said fiat surface butting against the free endof said spring to help support the intermediate portion of said springin the form of an arch extending above the upper surface of said framemember, the end of said arch having a predetermined angular relationshipto said frame member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 32,352Cook May 21, 1861 732,112 Ranz June 30, 1903 1,684,851 Stickley et a1.Sept. 18, 1928 2,257,633 Bank Sept. 30, 1941 2,526,184 Williams et a1.Oct. 17, 1950 2,910,115 Meyers Oct. 27, 1959

